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Jakarta Post

Rejection in Muslim regions persist

With only around two weeks before the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine campaign ends on Sept

Gemma Holliani Cahya and Hotli Simanjuntak (The Jakarta Post)
Jakarta/Banda Aceh
Fri, September 14, 2018

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Rejection in Muslim regions persist

W

ith only around two weeks before the measles-rubella (MR) vaccine campaign ends on Sept. 30, resistance against the campaign remains strong in Aceh.

As of Thursday, the Health Ministry recorded that Aceh’s coverage rate stood at 6.96 percent, far short of the 95 percent targeted, making it the province with the lowest vaccination coverage rate.

But it came as no surprise given that Aceh is the only province in the country that implements sharia.

Last month, its acting governor, Nova Iriansyah, said he had instructed his administration to postpone the vaccination program across the province.

It was unclear whether or not he had formally issued his decision. However, his announcement, days after the MR campaign started in August, has put the campaign in Aceh in limbo.

Nova said at the time that the postponement would be in force until the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) declared that the vaccine was halal.

On Aug. 20, the MUI issued a mubah (permitted for Muslims) fatwa allowing Muslims to use MR vaccines containing porcine-derived gelatin until a halal vaccine could be made.

But mubah status is apparently not enough for Aceh, and the Aceh Ulema Council (MPU) has opted to follow the MUI’s haram-but-mubah instruction.

“We know we eventually have to address this issue [and make a final decision]. But we also need to be really prudent because the Aceh Ulema Council and MUI have firmly stated that the MR vaccines contained a haram substance [pork],” Aceh administration spokesperson Saifullah Abdul Gani said on Friday.

Aceh Health Agency head Hanif said his office and the Aceh administration had requested a meeting with the MPU, which is scheduled for next week.

Hanif added that the agency would act in accordance with a letter from the MPU, which cited the MUI’s fatwa. “Aceh has yet to issue a [final] official stance. We decided to postpone the program pending the joint decision between the Aceh administration and the MPU [which is expected to be reached at the meeting next week].”

The situation was no different in other predominantly Muslim provinces, with resistance against the vaccine mostly coming from parents and religious groups.

Data from the Health Ministry showed that, as of Thursday, the province with the second lowest coverage rate was Riau with 21.07 percent, followed by West Sumatra, Bangka Belitung and West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) — which all have a coverage rate of below 30 percent.

The provinces with a coverage rate of over 72 percent are West Papua, North Sulawesi, East Nusa Tenggara (NTT) and Bali.

The ministry is looking to extend the campaign because of the poor vaccination coverage in some provinces.

“The campaign is important to ensure that each child develops immunity to the disease. If not, then an outbreak could happen,” its disease control and prevention director general, Anung Sugihantono, said.

The average national coverage rate moved at a snail’s pace from 35.05 percent by the end of August to 45.6 percent on Thursday.

The coverage rate is considered disappointing compared to the first MR campaign cycle last year, which covered only provinces on Java Island.

Across Java, the average coverage rate stood at 97.69 percent, surpassing the target, despite resistance from certain community groups.

“It was better because the controversy [of vaccine resistance] only emerged during the halfway stage of last year’s campaign, but this year it occurred right at the beginning of the campaign,” Anung said.

“Infrastructure gaps between Java [and areas outside Java] was also a factor. Although [poor] public acceptance matters significantly during this year’s vaccination campaign.”

The Home Ministry has also issued an instruction to all regional administrations, calling on them to support the vaccination campaign.

Home Minister Tjahjo Kumolo said he had yet to consider whether to sanction Aceh and other administrations.

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